What do you and your family do on ANZAC day? Usually my dad will attend the dawn service, and we will catch up with a lot of relatives (especially those who have fought in wars). This day is especially important to my dad as he has lost a lot of family members to World War II, and his dad also fought in the war, but luckily returned, making it a day of celebration as well. Why is ANZAC day significant to my family? ANZAC day is significant to my family, because many of our family members have fought and died in wars. It is also an Australian event, and I believe that being citizens of Australia we should honour our ancestors and those that went to war to help protect our country and fight for what we think is right. My great uncle (James) was also loved greatly and has never returned home. Remembering the services the ANZACS and the Allied Forces provided our country is also something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
James Cornelius O’Neill (ANZAC)
Lancaster I (W4382)
Relation: Great-Uncle (Grandma’s brother) Service number: 402604 Rank: Sergeant Unit: 50th Squadron RAF Service: Royal Air Force Conflict: 1939 – 1945 (World War II) D.O.B: 8th of February, 1914 Date of death: 17/18 December 1942 Place of death: Germany Cause of death: Flying battle Cemetery or memorial details: Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom
James went away to war newly married to his wife Uriel Daphne (Babs) O’Neill. Enrolled in the Air Force after training with the dam busters, James became a bomb aimer in the 50th squadron. On the 17th of December 1942, James set out on a bombing mission in Skellingthorpe Lincoln to Soltau, in Germany. He was officially presumed dead on the 18th of December 1842, when the Lancaster I (W4382) was presumably shot down over the ocean – the plane and bodies were never found, and still haven’t been.
In actual fact, this was not James’ mission, but rather a close friend’s who was sick and unable to complete the mission safely. James had offered to take his place, and before setting out, he had written a letter to his wife, explaining to her about the mission and telling her he had a bad feeling about it. It was on that mission he died.
Many letters and missing person reports were sent to both his father and wife (who were considered next of kin), explaining about the incident and what was being done to find James. Uriel was eventually told that the Air Force had used all their resources and could still not find her husband, telling her that an official presumption of his death should be thought about being written and expressing apologies.
According to documents and letters sent to the family from the National Archives, James has a diary, which was sent to either Uriel or his father (who lived and died in Sydney). I was unable to locate the diary but I believe it may hold some key information into who James really was and more about the war.
It has been found that the nationality of the Lancaster Crew was Allied, with a total of seven men, all still presumed missing or dead.
What were the Dam Busters?
The Dam Busters were the Allied Forces elite Lancaster bomber unit that were used as part of their bombing campaign, and was led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC. The Dam Busters missions mainly revolved around the attack on the dams of Ruhr, in Germany, and the bravery of the men involved in these missions was phenomenal. James never became involved with the dam busters on Operation Chastise, as he died before the official mission was operated.
Lancaster Crew list: John Charles Atkinson DFM (Pilot) Francis Martin (Sergeant) – Flight Engineer Percy William Rowling RAAF (Flying Officer) – Navigator James Cornelius O’Neill RAAF (Sergeant) – Bomb Aimer Charles William Walker RAAF (Flying Officer) WOp AG John Mason Reilly (Sergeant) – Mid Upper Gunner Henry William Joseph Smith DFM RAAF (Pilot Officer) – Rear Gunner
Reflection Researching my own family member and finding out about how he personally has helped shape Australia as a nation was really interesting and also inspiring. Learning about World War I and the Gallipoli campaign really helped me to understand the full meaning of ANZAC Day and how important it actually is. Before undertaking this project, ANZAC Day had little-to-no meaning, even though I knew it was to commemorate the Australians who had fought for our country. After learning what those soldiers actually went through and the amount of mateship and courage shown during the war, ANZAC Day has become special and has true meaning, unlike before when it was just in a way, 'lip service'. By being involved in this project, I have learnt about how the qualities and values ANZAC’s displayed during World War I have greatly impacted our identity and created what is called the ‘Aussie spirit’. I have also learnt a lot about my family history and which grandparents were related in wars, and in doing so I was able to get in contact with long-distance relatives, most of whom I had never spoken to before. The ANZAC project has also taught me a lot about war and the real effect of it on men and women worldwide. Looking at World War I from both the ANZAC’s and the Turk’s perspective was also insightful and helped me to better understand the Gallipoli Campaign’s horrific events. Finding family history that may not have been found if it weren't for this project was really nice and gives you a better connection with your family and family identity. Wars are dangerous and shouldn’t be so connected with everyday lifestyles; it is wrong and extremely disrespectful. Dispelling myths and understanding what the ANZAC’s actually did should become more widely broadcasted, instead of the stories made up to commercialise the ‘event’ to gain more profit.
My Anzac Story - MelarnM
What do you and your family do on ANZAC day? Usually my dad will attend the dawn service, and we will catch up with a lot of relatives (especially those who have fought in wars). This day is especially important to my dad as he has lost a lot of family members to World War II, and his dad also fought in the war, but luckily returned, making it a day of celebration as well.
Why is ANZAC day significant to my family? ANZAC day is significant to my family, because many of our family members have fought and died in wars. It is also an Australian event, and I believe that being citizens of Australia we should honour our ancestors and those that went to war to help protect our country and fight for what we think is right. My great uncle (James) was also loved greatly and has never returned home. Remembering the services the ANZACS and the Allied Forces provided our country is also something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
James Cornelius O’Neill (ANZAC)
Relation: Great-Uncle (Grandma’s brother)
Service number: 402604
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: 50th Squadron RAF
Service: Royal Air Force
Conflict: 1939 – 1945 (World War II)
D.O.B: 8th of February, 1914
Date of death: 17/18 December 1942
Place of death: Germany
Cause of death: Flying battle
Cemetery or memorial details: Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom
James went away to war newly married to his wife Uriel Daphne (Babs) O’Neill. Enrolled in the Air Force after training with the dam busters, James became a bomb aimer in the 50th squadron. On the 17th of December 1942, James set out on a bombing mission in Skellingthorpe Lincoln to Soltau, in Germany. He was officially presumed dead on the 18th of December 1842, when the Lancaster I (W4382) was presumably shot down over the ocean – the plane and bodies were never found, and still haven’t been.
In actual fact, this was not James’ mission, but rather a close friend’s who was sick and unable to complete the mission safely. James had offered to take his place, and before setting out, he had written a letter to his wife, explaining to her about the mission and telling her he had a bad feeling about it. It was on that mission he died.
Many letters and missing person reports were sent to both his father and wife (who were considered next of kin), explaining about the incident and what was being done to find James. Uriel was eventually told that the Air Force had used all their resources and could still not find her husband, telling her that an official presumption of his death should be thought about being written and expressing apologies.
According to documents and letters sent to the family from the National Archives, James has a diary, which was sent to either Uriel or his father (who lived and died in Sydney). I was unable to locate the diary but I believe it may hold some key information into who James really was and more about the war.
It has been found that the nationality of the Lancaster Crew was Allied, with a total of seven men, all still presumed missing or dead.
What were the Dam Busters?
The Dam Busters were the Allied Forces elite Lancaster bomber unit that were used as part of their bombing campaign, and was led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC. The Dam Busters missions mainly revolved around the attack on the dams of Ruhr, in Germany, and the bravery of the men involved in these missions was phenomenal. James never became involved with the dam busters on Operation Chastise, as he died before the official mission was operated.
Lancaster Crew list:
John Charles Atkinson DFM (Pilot)
Francis Martin (Sergeant) – Flight Engineer
Percy William Rowling RAAF (Flying Officer) – Navigator
James Cornelius O’Neill RAAF (Sergeant) – Bomb Aimer
Charles William Walker RAAF (Flying Officer) WOp AG
John Mason Reilly (Sergeant) – Mid Upper Gunner
Henry William Joseph Smith DFM RAAF (Pilot Officer) – Rear Gunner
References
Reflection
Researching my own family member and finding out about how he personally has helped shape Australia as a nation was really interesting and also inspiring. Learning about World War I and the Gallipoli campaign really helped me to understand the full meaning of ANZAC Day and how important it actually is. Before undertaking this project, ANZAC Day had little-to-no meaning, even though I knew it was to commemorate the Australians who had fought for our country. After learning what those soldiers actually went through and the amount of mateship and courage shown during the war, ANZAC Day has become special and has true meaning, unlike before when it was just in a way, 'lip service'. By being involved in this project, I have learnt about how the qualities and values ANZAC’s displayed during World War I have greatly impacted our identity and created what is called the ‘Aussie spirit’. I have also learnt a lot about my family history and which grandparents were related in wars, and in doing so I was able to get in contact with long-distance relatives, most of whom I had never spoken to before. The ANZAC project has also taught me a lot about war and the real effect of it on men and women worldwide. Looking at World War I from both the ANZAC’s and the Turk’s perspective was also insightful and helped me to better understand the Gallipoli Campaign’s horrific events. Finding family history that may not have been found if it weren't for this project was really nice and gives you a better connection with your family and family identity. Wars are dangerous and shouldn’t be so connected with everyday lifestyles; it is wrong and extremely disrespectful. Dispelling myths and understanding what the ANZAC’s actually did should become more widely broadcasted, instead of the stories made up to commercialise the ‘event’ to gain more profit.